UConn lands a point guard recruit

UConn added another basketball recruit from its wish list today when junior college point guard Sam Cassell Jr., gave a verbal commitment.

Cassell announced the news via his twitter account this morning.

"Blessed to say that I have committed to the University of Connecticut," he tweeted.

The name should sound familiar. He's the son of former NBA guard Sam Cassell, now an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards. His father also played one season in Milwaukee with UConn head coach Kevin Ollie.

UConn became the heavy favorite to land Cassell when Louisville recently stopped recruiting him. He visited UConn on the weekend of Sept. 21 and also considered Marquette and Missouri.

Cassell, who checks in at 6-3, attends Chipola College in Marianna, Fla. UConn associate head coach Glen Miller has watched him play three times in the last three weeks, including last weekend in Florida.

A West Baltimore native, Cassell committed to Maryland last year and attended summer school there before the NCAA ruled him ineligible due to some courses that he took at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg,Mass. So he enrolled at Chipola but didn't play last season.

He'll have three years of eligibility left at UConn.

The Huskies are building a strong recruiting class that also includes 6-6 swingman Daniel Hamilton and 6-8 power forward Rakim Lubin, who committed on Sept. 28 during his official visit.

North Carolina State transfer Rodney Purvis, a guard, also will join the team next season. He's practicing with the Huskies while sitting out this season.